I got it home and unloaded. It looks pretty good, so far. According to the fellow I bought it from, who is alledgedly the second owner, it has not been apart, and only has 97000 showing, and should be standard bore, albeit with a good bit of wear, as it smokes. It doesnt have any rod or piston noises, or even camshaft noise, just smokes a good bit. I also picked up a nearly new clutch and pressure plate, a bellhousing, and a set of G heads, pretty sure unposted, but I dont plan on any abnormally high compression, maybe 10.5 or 11:1. I got an extra oil pan to cut up into a T-pan also. This 312 is complete, except for the teapot carb which I let him keep. Probably should have kept that, but whatever. I got a C3 distributor that has had a Mallory Unilite module and rotor added, along with a set of NEW big fat 8 mm Mallory Pro Mag wires. Hopefully, this weekend, I can get it checked out, ready to commence...I love new cool stuff.

James Potter
`57 Fords International



`57 Custom Tudor

`57 Fords International National Director

Pass Christian, MS (near Gulfport/Biloxi)

Looks like you have a good start.  Let's see some pix and a build thread.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

That's the plan, Tim....any suggestions on the G heads? Cut down guides, valve sizes etc? I would like to use a good valve in these, are they standard lengths that are easy to get or do they have to be ordered for the Y? How about springs? I want to use a cam similar to the Isky 505, maybe one of mummerts, not sure yet, still in hunt and gather phase. I want to use either a BT or Mummert intake, I know both are equally hard to come by right now, so am keeping my eyes open. Anybody has one, drop me a line, I have cash...

Or....

What are your thoughts on multiple carbs? I know a good single 4 will usually outperform multi-carbs, but how about an Edelbrock 257, or even a stock Ford part? I have read a couple of the intake tests by Ted, and I know which one I want, but it goes back to the availability thing. I will probably for now, just go with a `57 4v intake, until I can score the Mummert or BT, preferably the Mummert.

How about distributors? I know the MSD is the hot ticket, but there seems to be a shortage of those right now, and I dont really want to pay the nearly 600 everyone wants for it. How about a Motorcraft distrib converted to Duraspark with an MSD 6AL? I can pick up a new distrib, which is a Motorcraft clone, and fit it with the Duraspark breakerplate, and go that way. I have a `63 Autolite distrib, that has a Mallory Unilite conversion fitted to it, but I have read lots of negative stuff about those...Definitely dont want to get out somewhere without at least a points distrib in the trunk in case the photocell craps out.

Finally, I am planning on running a toploader 4 speed, at least for a while, and maybe a 4.56 gear for playtime, and a 3.70 for normal driving. Any other suggestions to that end?

Like I said, I am learning on this, and will be asking questions as I think of them. Thanks in advance for the help.


James Potter
`57 Fords International



`57 Custom Tudor

`57 Fords International National Director

Pass Christian, MS (near Gulfport/Biloxi)

Buy it now MSD distributer 393.88 Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MSD-8383-BILLET-READY-TO-RUN-FORD-Y-BLOCK-DISTRIBUTOR-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5ae0459690QQitemZ390309713552QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

also royce has a stock 57 distributor and a pertronix conversion in this fire breather.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_Hpz3qPlpI 

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

james, glad you have picked a direction for your 57, now you can buy my 55 t-bird body and drop a351 windsor in it ,it is all mocked up for that!!! Are you going to try to come to Columbus this year as a spector, you will learn at lot even with out a car. Tom

  JUST A MIDNIGHT CRUISE DOWN THUNDER ROAD!!! TOM DRUMMOND MIDWEST DIRECTOR 57 FORD INTERNATIONAL

I wish I could afford the bird right now, 'cuz I want it bad, but, other priorities right now. I do plan to be at Columbus this year, watching, but 2012 I will be there with the Custom, 312 powered, hopefully not embarassing myself or the Y-block community with my 1st effort.


James Potter
`57 Fords International



`57 Custom Tudor

`57 Fords International National Director

Pass Christian, MS (near Gulfport/Biloxi)